Benjamin Franklin Brown

Benjamin Ben Brown, 77, of Marshalltown, died early Friday morning, October 7th, at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Des Moines. Funeral services will be held at 9:00 a.m. Friday, October 14th, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. He will be laid to rest in the Iowa Veterans Cemetery at Van Meter, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m. on Thursday. With family in transit, you are welcome to send or leave cards at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the family. Ph. 641-844-1234. Born on October 15th, 1938, in Marshalltown, he was the son of Frank and Pearl Brown. Soon after birth, he moved to Chicago and was raised by his sister. He enlisted in the United States Army and served our country honorably. Ben was self-employed as a seller at flea markets and other events. He taught ceramics at Camp Sunnyside and also sold ceramics with his wife. Mr. Brown also was employed at Hardees for eight years in management and a driver for the Yellow Cab Company in Marshalltown (his wife was dispatcher). He was married to Viola Borton and she preceded him in death suddenly in 1985 and later was married to Agnes Davis, and she too passed before him (in 2006). Ben was most recently a member of the VFW in Marshalltown. Surviving are nine children: Robert (LeAnn) Clapsaddle, Keith (Melva) Clapsaddle, Kathy Borton, Benjamin Brown, Jr. (Cindy), Dennis (Denise) Brown, Doris Brown, Darlene Peak, Marion (Lori) Brown and Deb (Rick) Nehring as well as 24 grandchildren and numerous great and great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings Claude and Mary Jane and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends as well as the family he became part of at the VA Hospital the past 6 months. In death, he rejoined his parents, siblings, his beloved wives, son Lowell Alan and many others.